Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Carnegie Museum of Art: CMOA Collects Edward Hopper

Edward
Hopper; Sailing, 1911; oil on canvas; Gift of Mr. and Mrs. James H.
Beal in honor of the Sarah Scaife Gallery; Courtesy of Carnegie Museum
of Art

In 1913, Edward Hopper sold his first painting at the first Armory
Show. But it would be over a decade before the now-famed painter sold
another. Instead, Hopper turned to etchings, drawings, and watercolors,
finding recognition for his masterful compositions of quiet, meditative
moments.

Edward Hopper is best known for his paintings of urban modern life in
the 20th century, but the artist initially found success with etching.
This medium proved to be ideal for his bold graphic compositions and
humble American subject matter that included rooftops, railroads,
buildings, and landscapes. Gain behind-the-scenes insight into CMOA’s
Hopper collection with curator Akemi May, who will discuss this
important moment in the artist’s career, famous printmakers like
Rembrandt who inspired him, and the watercolors that led to his
recognition as a painter.

CMOA Collects Edward Hopperpresents all 17 works by Hopper
in the museum’s collection, ranging from impressive examples of his
etchings, drawings, and watercolors, to the oil paintings for which he
is best known. This includes the first painting Hopper sold, Sailing (1911), and his 1936 painting Cape Cod Afternoon, produced after he gained widespread recognition. CMOA Collects Edward Hopper
also presents prints by artists who influenced Hopper during his
difficult formative years, including Rembrandt, John Sloan, and Charles
Meryon.

Never before exhibited together, the works in CMOA Collects Edward Hopper
reveal the development of an iconic American master, and shed light on
the influences that produced his instantly recognizable style.